Domestic water system



Patented Nov. 23, 1937 PATENT OFFICE- y 2,100,109 DOMESTIC ,WATER SYSTEM William H. Ryan, Newburgh, N. Y.

Application April 17, 1936, Serial No. 74,839 I UNITED STATES -5 'An'object of this invention is .to provide an im-' proved means whereby air may be regularly and automatically supplied to the storage tank of 'a domestic water system. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a means whereby atv least a portion of the discharge pipe of the pump may be drained of water when the pump or supply means for the storage tank has been cut off, and air admitted into the emptied portion of the system, the means for admitting air'into the systembeing cut off coincidentally with the starting up of the pump.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved draining and air supplying means which is so constructed as to prevent the pocket- 20 ing of air in the system so that the incoming air will be forced into the storage tank each time the pump connected to the tank is set in operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the'invention will be more fully described here-- 25 inafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation, partly broke away and in section, and partly diagrammatic, of a means for supplying air to a water system.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. I I

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the air valve.

Referring to the drawing, the. numeral Ill designates a water pump of conventional construction, and here shown as a rotarypump, which-is connected to a suitable source of power supply in the form of a motor II. The intake side 13 of the pump IOis adapted to be connected toa suitable sourceof Water supply, such as a well or water reservoir, and the outlet side I2 is adapted to be connected as by branches 14, I5 and IE to a water tank (notshown).

The motor H is connected as by conductors l1 and [8 to a suitable source of electric-current supply, the electric circuit being shown diagramsomaticallyin Fig. 1.

In order to provide a means whereby air may be automatically and periodically supplied to the water system between the tank and the pump [0, I have provided a drum or enlarged casing 19 which is interposed in the branch pipe l6, and

this casing 19 is provided at the intake end with a cap 20 having a nipple 2| disposed adjacent the bottom thereof, the nipple 2| being connected to the branch 16. v The other or outlet end of the casing I9 is provided with a second cap 22 having 5 a nipple 23 disposed adjacent thetop thereof, the nipple 23 being connected to a branch pipeJlia. The branch pipe Ilia. leads to the tank (not shown) and intermediate the tank and this branchpipe 160., a suitable check valve is provided such 'asfis l0 ordinarily used to prevent the return of water fromthe storage tank. When the pump lllfis 'stopped,'the water in the casing I9 is drained by means of a drainpipe 24-which is connected to thelower portion of the casing .19. The,.dra1in 15 pipe 24 has branches 25 and 26v connectedfthere to, the branch 26 being connected to asuitable carry-off means. If desired, thebranch26fcan be connected-with the pipe-|3, and the water again taken into the system and thereby re-used.

In order to facilitate the draining of the water. from the casing 19; an air vent'pipe 2 1 is connected at one end to the top of the casing 19, and the other end of the pipe 21 is provided with a spring-pressed valve member 28, the spring 29v 25 ,of which normally urges the valve 30 to closed 5 1 position. A valve stem 3| is connectedto the valve member 30 and extends upwardly for engagement by a vertically. movable valve operating arm 32. The arm'32 is secured-to a vertically 30 slidable rod 33,and is adjusted by means of as. set screw 34. The rod33 slides through a guide 35 carried by a stationary arm'36which is clamped. or otherwise secured to a supporting rod 3-1. The 'rod 31 is disposed in a, vertical position, and has 35 the lower end thereof mounted in a connection 38 which is interposed in the pipe 25, the connection 38 being in this instance a T-couplingmember' with the rod 31 mounted in and closing one branch thereof. 2 1 40 A solenoid 39 is secured as by a mountingmeans-iw 40 to the upper end of the supporting rod 31, and a the solenoid 39 is connected as by conductors 4| and42 to the conductors I1 and I8, respectively, so that when the motor is in operation electric 45 current will also flow through the conductors to i, the solenoid..39. A movable core .43 is secured ,to the upper end of the rod 33 so that when-the solenoid 39 is energized the core'43 will be. drawn upwardly, and as the arm 32 is connected to the 5 slide 33, which has the core 43 on thezupper ends";

thereof, upward movement of the solenoid core 43 will release the arm 32 from the valve stem 3| and permit the spring 29 to cut off the entrance, of air into the pipe 21 by closing the valve 30.

A drain valve member, generally designated as 44 is interposed in the pipe 25, and comprises a casing 45 having a valve member 46 disposed therein and provided with a valve stem 41. A spring 48 normally urges the valve member 46 to closed position. A second stem 49 is secured to the valve member 45 and extends outwardly of the housing 45 through a gland 59. A valve opening rock lever 5I is pivoted on an arm 52 carried by the housing 45, and one end of the lever 5| engages the extended end of the stem 49. The other end of the lever 5| is disposed between the arms of a yoke 53, being pivotally secured between the arms of the yoke 53 by means of a pivot 54. The yoke 53 is secured to the lower end of the slide rod 33, and the arms of the yoke 53 engage on opposite sides of the pipe- 25. A weight 55 is secured to the operating member or rod 33 above the guide 35 and offsets the tension of the spring 48, so that when. the current to the motor II is cut off, and likewise the current to the solenoid 39 is cut off, this weight 55 will gravitatingly move the rod33 downwardly so as to open the air .valve 28 and simultaneously'rock the lever 5i to thereby open the valve member 46. H

The hereinbefore described device is operated in the following manner: When the motor II is energized by closing the circuit embracing the conductors. I1 and I8, the pump I!) will force Water upwardly through the pipes I4, I5, l6 and IBa into the tank'connected to the pipe Ilia. As-

suming that the motor I I is shut off, then the solenoid 39 .will be de-energized, and the weight ber 46 to open position against thetension of the spring 48. V The water in the drum or casing I9 will then drain out. through the drain pipes 24, 25 and 26, through the valve 44.

As soon as the motor II ,is energized and set in operation, and the pump. llilikewise operated,

the electric current will also flow through the conductors 4| and 42 so as to energize the solenoid 39. When the solenoid 39 is energized, the core 43 will be drawn upwardly, and movementof the core 43 upwardly, will move the arm 32 to released position and also rock the lever 5| to released position, The spring 29 will close the valve 30 and thereby prevent the entrance of any air into the drum or casing I9 through the pipe 21,'and the spring 48 will close the valve 46 so that water will be prevented from draining through the pipes 24, 25 and-26. V

In view of the fact that the incoming water 7 which enters the casing I9 is taken in through the nipple 22 which is at the top thereof and opposite from the inlet.

the nipple 2| near the bottom of the casing, the air in the casing I9 will be forced upwardly and will be discharged into the pipe Hid by reason of the fact that the outlet for the casing I9, namely,

This action of the air takes place during the operation of the pump, the pipes '21 and 24 being then closed.

each time the motor II is operated there will be a quantity of air forced into the pressure tank a so that a constant supply of fresh air will be sup- It will be apparent from the foregoing that plied the water tank, the quantity of air being determined by the size of the drum or casing I9 which may be varied to suit the needs of the particular tank.

The tank .60, as is well known; has connection with a' pipe I6a which in turn makes connection with the casing I9, as shown in Fig. 1.

Well known electrical connections in the form of conductors 5| and 62 may be connected to the tank 80, said conductors BI and 62 being in turn connected with the motor II. A float signal 53 in the tank 65, closes the electrical circuit of the conductors and thereby the motor II is actuated, all in a manner well known. The novelty, however, consists in a means for automatically supplying air to a water system having a pump operated by an electric motor for supplying water to a pressure tank, and having a pipe for conducting Water to the tank, a check valve in said pipe, the

combination of a horizontally disposed casing adapted for the passage of the pumped water therethrough and disposedin the pipe line between the check valve and pump, a drain pipe communicating with the casing and connected with the lowermost part thereof, a valve in said drain pipe, a solenoid in circuit with the motor, an armature raised against the action of gravity by the solenoid, a rod connecting the armature with the valve, and a weight on said rod for causing the rod'to descend under the action of gravity whereby upon the lowering of the rod by the action of gravity, upon the stoppage of the pump and non-actuation of the solenoid the water is drained by the drain pipe from the casing, and upon the raising of the armature by the solenoid, the valve is closed and the draining of water by the pipe from the casing is prevented and the water and the air in the pipe is forced into 'the tank when the pump is in operation and the solenoid actuated.

It will have been noted that the purpose of the invention as embodied in the device shown is to furnish air to the storage tank of domestic water systems, at a predetermined rate, regularly and automatically, and by so doing, to take the place of present air cylinders, air compressors and similar devices.

It is of course understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention, such changes and modifications being limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 7

What is claimed is:

l. A'means for automatically supplying air to a water system having an electrically operated pump, comprising a casing adapted to be interposed in the system on the outlet side of the pump, an air intake means connected to the casing, a drain pipe connected to the casing, a spring pressedvalve in the air intake means, a spring pressed valve in the drain pipe, means engaging each of said valves for moving said valves to open position when the pump is inoperative, and means engaging said latter means for disengaging said latter means from the valves when the pump is operative.

2. A means for automatically supplying air to a water system having a pump operated by an electric motor, comprising a casing adapted to be interposed in the system on the outlet side of the pump, air vent means for said casing, a drain pipe connected to the casing, spring-pressed and normally closed valves in said air vent means and said drain pipe, a vertically slidable rod, guide means for said rod, an arm carried by the rod H and disposed in the path of the air vent valve,

cuit with the motor, and a movable core secured by to open each of said valves, a solenoid in CiI-;:

: to said rod and adapted upon energization of said solenoid to move said rod upwardly and thereby move said arm and said lever to released position.

3. In a means for automatically supplying air to a Water system having a pump operated by an electric motor for supplying water to a pressure tank, and having a pipe for conducting water to the tank, a check valve in said pipe, the combination of a horizontally disposed casing adapted for the passage of the pumped water therethrough and disposed in the pipe line between the checkvalve and pump, a drain pipe communicating with the casing and connected with the lowermost part thereof, a valve in said drain pipe, a solenoid in circuit with the motor, an armature raised against the action of gravity by the solenoid, a rod connecting the armature with the valve, and a weight on said rod for causing the rod to descend under the action of gravity whereby upon the lowering of the rod by the action of gravity, upon the stoppage of the pump and nonactuation of the solenoid the Water is drained by the drain pipe from the casing, and upon the raising of the armature by the solenoid, the valve is closed and the draining of water by the drain pipe from the casing is prevented and the water and the air in the pipe is forced into the tank when the pump is in operation and the solenoid actuated.

WILLIAM H. RYAN. 

